Here is a toast to Ironstone Vineyards from California. Below is some information from the winery in their own words and the wines they will pour at the VanWineFest 2025. Enjoy!
About Ironstone Vineyards
Ironstone is nestled in the charming gold rush town of Murphys in California’s Sierra Foothills. For decades, the Kautz Family has been devoted to sustainably growing the highest-quality, most delicious grapes anywhere in the Lodi appellation and Sierra foothills and crafting approachable wines perfect to share with family and friends. Ironstone takes its name from the impossibly hard schist and limestone formations from which the winery’s foundation and companion caverns were blasted and drilled.
Family owned and operated by four generations of the Kautz family, Ironstone Vineyards is one of the largest family run wineries in California. The family has a rich history of farming in the Lodi region and makes every decision about their winemaking based on the concept of sustainability. Ironstone places as much emphasis on the beauty and history of its surroundings as it does on the quality of wines. Sustainable farming practices have been implemented for over 30 years.
In 1926, the Kautz family began farming in the Lodi region and in 1948, John Kautz Farms was founded. Ironstone Winery, founded in 1990 by Gail and John Kautz has become an iconic brand of wines crafted from John Kautz Farms’ 7,000 acres of sustainably grown, world-class wine grapes in the Lodi American Viticultural Area and the scenic Sierra foothills. Ironstone’s wines exemplify the Kautz family’s talent and passion. The Kautz’s have control of every stage in the process: careful vineyard site selection, sustainable farming practices, meticulous handling of the fruit and cutting-edge winemaking techniques to create a lineup of superb wines ideal for any occasion and celebration.
The Wines We Will Feature at the International Festival Tasting Room
The wines that will be poured in the International Festival Tasting Room are:
Obsession Symphony 2022 – Obsession Symphony is made from a wine grape crossing of Grenache Gris and Muscat of Alexandria and was developed in 1948 by UC Davis professor, Dr. Harold Olmo. The Kautz Family has the most significant plantings of this unique and seductive variety. Captivating aromas of gardenia, honeysuckle and star jasmine lead to remarkably full flavours… passion fruit, pineapple, lychee, peaches, ginger … slightly fruity, not cloying, nicely acidic …
Ironstone Pinot Noir 2021 – Ironstone Pinot Noir has seductive aromas of luscious black cherries, cloves and a touch of vanilla. The Kautz family grows these Pinot Noir grapes in their Thornton Ranch property, close to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a vast inland waterway that connects to the Pacific Ocean. These vineyards benefit the greatest from the daily ocean breezes, making Jahant one of the coolest areas in the Lodi AVA.
Leaping Horse Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 – The Leaping Horse line of wines is named for the Kautz family’s love of horses… The Kautz family have been involved in many generations of riders and are passionate about their equine friends and partners. Leaping Horse is about unpretentious and contemporary wine styles. Leaping Horse Cabernet Sauvignon is a luscious Cabernet with deep red-purple hues and flavours of black currant and cherry with hints of blueberry jam, eucalyptus and mint with lovely vanilla and coffee notes. It is smooth, rich and deliciously enjoyable.
Ironstone Old Vine Zinfandel 2021 – Ironstone Old Vine Zinfandel has all of the complexity and concentration one would expect from Lodi’s signature grape grown by Lodi’s signature winegrowing family. From vineyards more than 45 years old in the Mokelumne River sub-AVA, this exceptional wine has lovely aromas of dark fruit, red fruit and subtle pepper spice and flavours of blackberry, ripe plums and fresh red raspberries.
Ironstone Reserve “Rous Vineyard” Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2021 – The Rous Vineyard, grafted entirely onto St. George rootstock, was planted in 1909. This 10-acre vineyard is in the sub-appellation of Mokelumne River. These magnificent, twisted, gnarly, head-trained Zinfandel vines yield 2.5 tons per acre of fruit with incredible concentration of flavours. Grapes grown on these 110-year-old vines produce “Ancient Vine” Zinfandel that is so well-made its seamless characteristics are unforgettable. Multidimensional in aromas and flavours, this generously rich Zinfandel offers plush aromas and flavours of ripe blackberries, brown spices, clove, caramel, and slight vanilla, finishing with well-rounded tannins and a lingering dark, fruit finish.
